Propel pencil



Dec. i8, 1923.

W. M. SAUNDERS PROPEL PENC IL Filed June 19. 1922 Qhw mm \I.R L.

Patented Dec. 18, 1923.

STAT-Es WILLIAM.' M. SAUNDERS, OF WATEBB'URY, CONNECTICUT,

trenes. 'ro ana neen MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., 'A CORPORATION' OE 'NW YORK.

PEOEEL ENCIL.

Appiioauon ami June ia, ieee. amai no. sessie.

To all 'whom t 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM' M. SAUN- imiis a citizen of the United States, residing at Waterbury, county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and useful lm rovement in Iropel Pencils, of which the ollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

'lhe'present invention relates to propel pencils and has for its object to provide a novel and improved pencil of this character which is simple, cheap and durable in construction, and reliable and eiiicient in operation. It further has forits object to provide a new and improved propel pencil which can be readily assembled and disassembled.

The several features of the invention will be clearly understood from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation, with the sheath shown partially in section and partially broken away, of a pencil embodying the features of the invention in their preferred foim;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the pencil taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are transverse sectional views, on an enlarged scale, taken on the lines 3 3, 4 4, 5 5 and 6 6respectivcly, of Fig. 2; and n Fig. 7 is a detail side view of a friction spring shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

The pencil illustrutedin the drawings is provided with a tip 4 und an operating knob ill 6 ou opposite ends. The body of the pencil is surrounded by a` removable sheath or casing 2 which foi-ins merely a finishing shell. T he lower or tip end of the sheath is tapering, and the outer surface of the tip is correspondingly tapering so as to form a continuation of the outer tapering surface of the sheath. The tip 4 has a reduced portion S extending into the sheath and forming a shoulder 10 that abuts the end of the sheath. This reduced portion 8 of the tip is screwthreaded into the lower end'of a sleeve or bushing which is mounted in the sheath and has the outer surface of its forward end tapering to t the tapering end of the sheath. The sleeve or bushing is made in two sections 14 and 16 that are screw-threaded together, the section 14 being provided with an internally threaded socket portion 18 which is screw-threaded on the lower .2 so as to co-operate with the tapering end of' the section 14 and the tip 4 to hold the sheath in position upon the sleeve 14-16. A sprin arm 22 is arranged in a slot 24 in the section 14 and its free end is adapted to engageons of a series of slots 26 in the reduce( screw-threaded portion of the tip 4 so as to form a detent holding the ti 4 from turning in the sleeve section 14. @he spring arm 22 is secured to the sleeve by means of a ring 28 formed integral `therewith which is, clamped between the inner end of the sleeve section 16 and the inner end wall of the screw-threaded socket 18 in the sleeve section 14. 'llhe sleeve section 14 and the tip 4 are provided lwith. axial bores that are continuations of each other. A lead guiding tube 30 extends through the cev axial bore in the sleeve section 14 and into the axial bore of the tip the lower end of the tube being spaced a s ort distance from the end of the tip, and the wall of the bore in the tip below the tube being contracted to lt the lead. The lead guiding .tube 30 is secured to the sleeve section 14 by a driving fit. The portion of the lead guiding tube extending upwardly be ond the bore of the sleeve section 14 exten s into the sleeve section 16 and its end abuts against a nut 32 which is, preferably, separately formed and fixed. by a drive fit in the sleeve section 16, the tube being in axial alinement with the screw-threaded bore of the nut. A lead follower or propeller 34 in the form of a screw is adapted to be screwed throu h the nut, and the u per end of the prope ler is provided wit a laterally projectin lug or tongue 36 that extends into a gui e slot 3? in a tube 38 constituting a follower or propeller carrier, the slot extending from the upper end to near the lower end of the tube. The carrier 38 closely surrounds and guides the propeller 34, and its lower end is mounted for rotation in a removable cap 42 forming the upper end of the sleeve section 16. The mounting of the end of the propeller .tube 38 in the sleeve section 16 comp-rises an outwardly turned flange 40 on .the lower end of the tube that is held between the ropeller nut 32 and a friction device 41 w ich lid@ is held in position in the sleeve section 16 by a car nut 42 screwed on the upper end of the sleeve section 16, the lower end of the propeller carrier 38 extending through and eing journaled in the upper end wall of thecap nut 42, so that the sleeve and carrier are connected together by a swivel joint containing a friction draw. The friction device 41 comprises two washers 43 and an annular thrust spring 44 which is'split and has its ends turned outwardly in opposite directions as shown in Figs. 5 and and is interposed between the washers 43, the washers and spring surrounding the tube 38 and being interposed between the flange on the tube and the upper end wall of the cap nut 42. This friction deviec 4l compensates for any looseness of parts between t e propeller tube 38 and its mounting and places a slight frictional drag on the propeller tube to prevent the tube from turning too'freely.

A sleeve 54 is mounted on the tube 38 so as'to close the propeller screw guiding slot 37, and is interposed between the cap nut 42 and the lower reduced end of an actuating member 45. The up r end of the sleeve 54 is provided with a s et.55 which is adapted to register with the guide slot 37 in the propeller tube 38, so that an instrument can be inserted in the slot 37 to prevent lts turning relative to the sleeve 54 when it is desired to apply or remove the member 45. Surrounding the sleeve 54 and spaced away therefrom is a tube 57, the ends of which fit :i on bosses on the members 42 and 46, one at least of said fits being loose. The fit with part 42 is preferably a tight fit so as to prevent, relative movement between 42 and 57. The space between the sleeve 54 and the tube 57 serves as a magazine for the extra leads, access being had to the magazine for the purpose of replenishing or removing lead through openings 56 in the wall portion 58 o? the actuating sleeve 46, t ese openings being closed by the eraser plug 52 when in place.

The lower end of the actuating sleeve 45 which is reduced in diameter is screwthreaded on the upper end of the propeller tube 38. This actuating sleeve is provided with portions 46 and 47 mounted to yturn in t-he upper ends of the sheath 2 and tube 57 respectively, shoulders 50 and 51 that are adjacent to the upper ends of the sheath 2 and tube 57, and a portion extending beyond the sheath that constitutes the operating knob 6, the peri heral surface of which is knurled or mille An eraser holding plug 52 fits within the upper portion of the actuating sleeve 45 and its lower end portion is screw-threaded on the end of the propeller tube 38. -With this construction the screw threads engaged by the eraser holder are made in the same operation as those engaging the sleeve 45 and the screw threads `in the bore of the plug 52 are made more easily than if made on the exterior of the holder. 'lhe upper ppartion of the eraser holding plug 52 extends yond the end of the actuating sleeve 45 and its peripheral surface is knurled to enable the lug to be esil rom the prope ler tube 38.

In the use of the pencil, the lead may be inserted in the lead guiding tube 3() either by inserting it through the tip 4 while the tip is in place, or by removing the tip. In order to unscrew the tip 4 it is necessary when the sheath 2 is in lace in the form shown, to press downwardly on the knob 6 or eraser plug 52 so as to keep rthe tapering end ot' the sleeve section 14 in bindin engagement with the tapering end o? the sheath 2 and thus overcome the holding action of the detent spring arm 22 on the ti Similarly, in screwing the tip into'place 1t is necessary to press Vdownwardly on the knob 6 or eraser plug 52 so as to cause the tapering end of the sleeve section 15 to bind 0n the tapering end of the sheath 2 and thus .r1

overcome the holding action of the detent spring arm 22 on the tip. If, however, the tip 4 is turned without thus binding the sleeve 14-16 the spring arm 22 Will cause the sleeve to turn with the tip and the tip will not unscrew, which is advantageous as it oblviates any danger of the tip being accidentally unscrewed or working loose so as todrop olf.

It will be apparent that the lead propeller may be advanced and retracted as desired by turning the knob 6. In order to permit the propeller to be disengaged from the nut 32 so as to prevent injury to the parts upon excessive retracting turning of the knob 6, and also in order to insure that the threads of the propeller and nut may be properly engaged after they have become disengaged, a yielding abutment is provided which is engaged by the propeller near the end of its retracting movement and which, when the propeller is disengaged from the nut and the knob 6 is turned in the direction to advance the propeller, tends to urge the propeller to enter its nut 32. This yielding abutment comprises a coiled sprin mounted in the propeller tube 38 and lnterposed between a lug 62 driven in the end of the tube 38 andbi spacing pin 64 which is mounted to slide in the tube and is interposed between the spring 60 and the end of the propeller.

In order to prevent the lead from being jambed back into the nut 32 when the propeller has been retracted out of effective engagement with the nut, a plunger 66V is mounted to slide in the lead guiding tube 30, which plunger has an enlarged head 68 on its rear or upper end of greater diameter than the bore of the nut, the plunger 66 removed by unscrewing it- Larnaca serving asa lead engaging head for the pro- Seller. The plunger is prevented from ropping out of the end of the tube and the extent of the advancing movement of the plunger and the propel er is limited by the engagement of the head 68 thereof with the contracted lead engagin end of the tube 30. The lower end of the p unger by projecting through the tip indicates to the user when the lead has been exhausted from the lead guiding tube 30.

From the foregoin it will be a parent that upon removing tie tip 4, the s eath 2 can be removed, all of the remaining parts of the pencil constituting a unit which when the tip is replaced constitutes an operative magazine propel pencil. ``When the sheath is removed, the remaining unit can be easily disassembled for the purpose of repairing or renewin To disassemble the parts, the eraser hol ing lug 52 may be unscrewed from the end ol) the propeller tube 38 and removed from the actuatlng sleeve 45, and then by inserting a suitable tool throu h the slots 55 in the sleeve 54 and 59 in t e tube 57 into the guide slot 37 in the propeller tube 38 to prevent the propeller tube from turning, the actuating sleeve 45 may be easily unscrewed and removed from the pro eller tube and the sleeve 54 slipped off of t e propeller tube. rlhe tube 38 1s held in a simi ar manner when the actuating member 45 is being screwed thereon. By removing the cap nut 42 from the sleeve section 16 the propeller tube 38 may be removed and, u on removing the lug 62 from the upper end) of the tube 38, t e propeller, spacing pin 64 and spring 60 slipped out of the tube, and if desired the cap nut 42 and the #friction device 41 may be slipped; oil of the propeller tube. The lead guiding tube 30 and the spring arm 22 may be removed by unscrewing their supporting sleeve section 14 from the sleeve section 16.

While it is preferred to employ the specific construction and arrangement of parts illustrated and described, it is to be understood that this construction and arrangement is not essential except so far as specified in the claims, and ma be changed or modified without departing rom the broader features of the invention. A

What I claim is:

1. A pencil of the class described having in combination a tubular sheath, a sulpporting sleeve removably mounted in t e lower end portion of the sheath, a pencil tip screw-threaded into the lower end of the sleeve and constructed to hold the sleeve in position, a screw-threaded lead propeller extending into said sleeve for advancing the lead through the tip of the pencil, a tube into which said propeller extends having its lower end mounted for rotation with relation to the sleeve, a nut carried by said su ortin sleeve and en agin said propellldr, a nob rotatably gmouligted in the upper end of the sheath and secured to the tube for rotating the tube, and means comprisin connectlons between the tube and propo ler for rotating the propeller upon rotation of the tube, said supporting sleeve, tube, propeller and knob capable of being removed from the 'sheath as a unit upon removing said pencil ti 2. A pencil of the c ass described having in combination a tubular sheath, a su orting sleeve removably mounted in tlie ower end portion ofv the sheath, a pencil tip screw-threaded into the lower end of the sleeve and constructed to hold the sleeve in position, a screw-threaded lead ropeller extending into said sleeve for advancing the lead through the tip of the pencil, a tube into which said pro eller extends hav# ing lts lower end mounte for rotation with re ation to the sleeve, a nut carried b said supporting sleeve and engaging sai prope 1er, a knob rotatably mounted 1n the upper end of the casing and secured to the tube for rotating the tube, and means comprising connections between the tube and propeller for rotating the propeller upon rotation of the tube, said supporting sleeve, tube, propeller and knob capable of being removed from the sheath as a unit upon removing said pencil tip, a magazine tube within said sheath spaced away from said first mentioned tube, the s ace between said first mentioned tube an magazine tube being closed by said knob.

3. A pencil of the class described having in combination a tubular sheath, a nut held in fixed position with relation to the sheath, an elongated tube rotatably mounted in the sheath, a lead propeller screw-threaded through the nut and extending into said tube, said propeller and tube havin a tongue and slot connection between t em for causing the propeller to rotate with the tube and permitting axial movement. of the propeller with relation to the tube, and an operating knob llocated at the u per end of the sheath and secured to the tu e, and a spging exerting a drag on said elongated tu e.

4. In a propel pencil, the combination of a sheath having 1n its lower end a sleeve, a slotted follower carrier connected thereto by a swivel joint and extending toward the upper end of said sheath, operating means secured to the upper end of said carrier, a threaded follower within said carrier and engagin the slot therein, a nut within said sleeve a apted to engage the lower end of said follower and a spring friction device at said swivel joint and producing a dra upon said follower carrier relatively to sai sleeve.

5. lin a propel pencil, the combination of (itl 'a sheath having in its lower end a sleeve, aA slotted follower carrier connected thereto by a swivel joint and extending toward the upper end of said Sheath` a threaded follower within said carrier and engaging the slot: therein, a nut within said sleeve adapted to engage the lower end of said follower and a spring friction device producing a drag u on sai follower carrier relatively to sai( sleeve, said sleeve having at its upper end a cap screw-threaded thereon and containing said drag reducing means.

6. n a propel pencil, the combination of a sheath having in its lower end a sleeve, a slotted follower carrier rotatable relatively thereto, and extending toward the upper end of said sheath. a threaded follower within said carrier and engaging the slot therein, anut within said sleeve adapted to engage vthe lower end of said follower, a yielding abutment within the upper end of said follower carrier for forcing said follower toward said nut when fully retracted.

7. In a propel pencil, the combination of a sheath having in its lower end a sleeve, a slotted follower carrier rotatable relatively thereto and extending toward the upper end of said sheath. a threaded follower with; in said carrier and engaging the slot therein, a nut within said sleeve adapted to engage the lower end of said follower, a yieldln 1 abutment within the upper end of said fol lower carrier for forcing said follower toward said nut when fully retracted, said yieldin abutment comprising a spring and a movai le spacin pin located betweenthe upper end of sai follower and said spring.

8. In a propel pencil, the combinatwn of a sheath, a sleeve held in its lower end, a slotted follower carrier swivelled to said sleeve so as to be held from longitudinal movement and so as to be rotatable relatively thereto and extending toward the' upper end of said sheath. a threaded follower within said carrier and engaging the slot therein, a nut within said sleeve adapted to engage the lower end of said follower, the upper end of said follower carrier being screw-threaded and an operating member having a scrcw threaded bore andmaking engagement with the screw-threaded upper end of said carrier, said operating member having a shoulder directly engaging the upper end of said sheath.

9. In a propel pencil, the combination of a sheath having in its lower end a sleeve, a slotted follower carrier rotatable relatively thereto and extending toward the upper end V of said sheath, a threaded follower Within said carrier and engaging the slot therein, a nut within said sleeve adapted to engage the lower end of said follower, the upper end of said follower carrier being screw-threaded, an operatin mem-ber having a screw-threaded bore and making engagement with the screw-threaded end of said carrier, said operating member having a recess into which the screw-threaded end of said carrier protrudes Iand an eraser carrier entering said recess and screw-threaded upon said protruding end of said carrier.

10. In a pencil, the combination of a tip having a screw-threaded rejecting upper portion, a body portion iaving a screwthreaded recess with which said screwthreaded projection engages and a s ring ydatent fixed relatively to one of sai two members and acting to hold said tip against being accidentally unscrewed from saidbody portion.

11. In a propel pencil, the combination of a sheath having in its lower end a sleeve, a

removable tip liaving a screw-threaded ex` tension screwed into the lower end, of said sleeve and a shoulder abutting the end of said sheath, the upper end of said screwthreaded projection having a recess,'a spring detent carried by said sleeve and adapted to engage said recess.

12. In a propel pencil, the combination of a sheath havin in its lower end a sleeve, a removable tip aving a screw-threaded extension screwed into the lower end of said sleeve and a shoulder abuttin the end of said sheath, the upper end o said screwthreaded projection having a recess, a spring dctent carried by said sleeve and engaging said recess, said spring having a transverse portion and said sleeve having two screwthreaded portions clamping said transverse portion between them.

13. In a propel pencil, the combination of a sheath having in its lower end a sleeve, a slotted follower carrier swiveled thereto so as to be rotatable relatively and extending toward the upper end of said casing, an operating member on the upper end of said carrier, a threaded follower within said carrier and enga-ging the slot in said carrier, a nut within said sleeve adapted to engage the lower end of said follower, a removable tip having a. screw-threaded extension screwed into the lower end of said sleeve and a shoulder abutting the end of said sheath, said sleeve and follower carrier being removable as a unit through the upper end of said sheath when said tip is removed.

14. Ina propel pencil, the combination of a sheath, a sleeve in its lower end, a slotted follower carrier swiveled and rotatable relative to said sleeve and extending toward the upper end of said sheath, a threaded follower within said carrier and engaging the slot therein, a nut within said sleeve adapted to engage the lower end of said follower, an operating member secured to the upper end of said follower carrier and a second sleeve surrounding said follower carrier and extending substantially from said operating member to said first sleeve,

llt)

tion adapted to protrude Lafrance a magazine tube within said sheath and spaced from said carrier to form a magazine, and a closure for said magazine connected to said carrier.

15. In a propel pencil, the combination of a sheath having in its lower end a sleeve, a slotted follower carrier swiveled and rotatable relative thereto, and extending toward the upper end of said sheath, a threaded follower within said carrier and engaging the slot therein, a nut within said sleeve adapted to engage the lower end of said follower, an operating member' secured to the upper end of said follower carrier and a sleeve surrounding said follower carrier and extending substantially from said operating member to said first sleeve said second sleeve having an opening adapted to register with an opening in said follower carrier and to permit the insertion of a tool to prevent relative rotation of said second sleeve and said follower carrier.

16. In a propel pencil, the lcombination of a sleeve carrying at its upper end a nut havin a screw-threaded bore, a screwthrea ed follower adapted to enter said bore and to be retracted therefrom, means for rotating said screw-threaded follower, a lead guide below said screw-threaded bore and a plunger within said lead guide adapted to be engaged by the upper end of a lead heein, and protect said bore from said 17. In a propel pencil, the combination of a sleeve carrying at its upper end a nut having a screwthreaded bore, av screwthreaded followen adapted to enter said bore and to be retracted therefrom, means for rotating said screw-threaded follower, a lead guide below said screw-threaded bore anda plunger within said lead guide adapted to be engaged by the upper end of a lead therein said plunger havinv a reduced porg om the end of the pencil when said plunger is in its lowermost position.

18. In a propel pencil, a sleeve member, a screw-threaded follower, a tube member containing said follower and secured to said sleeve member by a swivel connection, one of Said swiveled members having a screwthread engaged by said follower, and the other having means for preventing relative movement between it and said follower and permitting longitudinal movement of said follower when said tube member is turned relativel to said sleeve member, a sheath surroun ing said parts and removably fixed relatively to said sleeve member.

19. In a propel encl, a sleeve member, a screw-threaded fol ower, a tube member containing said follower and secured to said sleeve member by a swivel connection, one of said swiveled members having a screwthread engaged by said follower, and the other having means for preventing relative movement between it and said follower and permitting longitudinal movement of said follower when said tube member is turned relatively to said sleeve member, a sheath surrounding said parts, and a tip secured to said sleeve member and abuttin against the lower end of said sheath an holding the sheath upon said other parts.

20. In a propel pencil, a sleeve member, a screw-threaded follower, a tube member containing said follower and secured to said sleeve member by ay swivel connection, one

ofsaid swiveled members having a screw- Y thread engaged by` said follower, and the other having means for preventing relative movement between it and said follower and p ermitting longitudinal movement of said follower when said tube member is turned relatively to said sleeve member, a sheath surrounding said arts and fixed relatively to said sleeve mem er, a tip secured to said sleeve member and abutting against the lower end of said sheath and holding the sheath upon said other parts, a tube located within said sheath and spaced away from said tube member so as to form a maga'- upper end of said magazine.

WILLIAM M. SAUNDERS.

yzine, and removable means for closing the 

